Vehicle tire



Patented Nov. 9, 1925.

VEHICLE TIRE.

Application filed. July 26. 1922. Serial No. 577,497.

This invention relates to rubber vehicle tires of that kind in which a'solid body of rubber is provided with a tread portion and with a base portion to engage the rim or channel iron of the wheel, and with openings or notches or irregular formation of some kind along the tread thereof, or along the sides of the tire, in order to prevent skidding and increase traction and for;

tend to prevent skidding and which will, have the other essential requirements of a rubber tire of this general character.

'It is also an object to provide certain 2 details and features of construction tending to increase the general efiiciency and desirability of a rubber tire of this particular character; To these and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which U Figure 1 is a face view of the tread of a tire embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the section of rubber tire shown in Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a different form of the invention. Figure 4; is a cross section on line 1& in Figurel. v h

Figure 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 in Figure v3.

Asthus illustrated, the rubber tire shown in Figure 1 has, in cross section, as shown in Figure at, a flat'treacl surface 1, preferably inwardly inclined fiat sides 2, and a base portion 3 having preferably outward- 1y inclined sides 43 to engage the sides of the channel rim 5 of the wheel. ,The sides of the tire are preferably provided at intervals with V-shaped notches 6, these notches being of such width that the intermediate straight portions 7 of the sides are 5 preferably the same width, so that notches if of a certain width alternate wi h side tions of the same width, inasmuch as the distance from 8 to 9 is the same as the distance from 9 to 10along'each side of the tire. It will be seen that the notches? at one side are opposite the notches 6 at the other side of the tire, and it will be seenthat the sides of the notches at one side are parallel with the sides of the notches at the other side. Thus, if the tire were separated into sections, by cutting it trans-- versely from the apex of each notch at one side to the point of the notch at the other side, the sections thus produced wouldbe octagonal in shape, or substantially so, as shown by the section indicated between the two dotted lines 11 and 12 in Figure 1. of the drawings; The tire thus formed rolls smoothly and without appreciable .vibration, inasmuch as the sideportions'7 are ofthe .same width as the \l-shaped notches, in the manner shown and described, and the tire is adapted to h ave the desired traction effect on the ground, and the ten-dency'towards skidding is also reduced.

' In Figures 1 and 4 it will also be seen that each octagonal section ofthe tire has a center cavity 13' which ispreferablysubstantially square, when the tire is viewed as shown in Figure 1, except that the corn-ers of the cavity are rounded as shown. Also, this cavity is preferably, filled with soft rubber 14:, 'or with other material which is softer thanithebody of the tire, in .a manner to leave'a shallow cavity 15 at the tread of the tire. .With this construction, the tire is provided 'on its tread with cavities which tend to prevent skidding and which increase the traction of'the tire on the ground,-or on a pavement, butat the same time these cavities cannot fill up'with dirt and mud. The filling 14' ofea'ch cavity is so soft that it'practically'offers'no opposition to' the flow of rubber into this soft spot, when the tread of the tire is in action'on the ground, but at the same'time this rubber filling 14 will expand or flow into the cavity15 when the body'of thetire flows into thesoft spot, and thusprovi'des an expansible filling for the cavities, in the manner shown. The cavities 15areshallow so that they will not become perma nently plugged with dirt or mud'or stories, but they are deep enoughlto give the effect of a tire having a tread with sufficient] if- 1153 regular forniatieii a; ensuretraetibn andfa ageinst'shiddingi The 'sett'filler 14 will expand and fill the cavity 15 and therefore come in contact with the road surface. Therefore, as the tread surface 1 wears down the filler 14: will wear so that the cavity 15 will remain substantially the same during the life of the tire. 1

In Figures 3 and 5, it will be seen, the construction is substantially the same as that previously described, except that in this case the octagonal sections of the tire are provided with a group'of small holes 16 which may extend through into a shallow cavity 17 formedin the base of the tire, with an opening 18 in the rim opposite this cavity, or these holes can extend to about the same depth as the soft spot 15 of Figure &

as shown. The group of holes 16 in effect 7 u o r rom he ame u er F1 re a e formed f t s r bb or from the rubber of the body, but with small holes'or cells: located so close together that the effect is a softer area-or spot of the required character into: which rubber fromthe body o-f'the tire can flow.

Thusthe tire is preferably composed of octagonal sections which are integrally united and the sides of which are the same in width as the mouths of the V shaped notches between them, Also, in each form of the invention each; octagonal section of the tire has a cent-ralsoft spot formed in a suitable way, explain-ed, as a; substitute for a; large cavity which might fill up or become plugged with dirt or mud or stone's, as is common with tires having large cav ities of this kind. In other words, the soft spot assures the desired result, much as a large cavity would, but has the advantage of being able to keep itself' from lecoming filledor plugged with dirt or mud orstones taken" up from the road, and is self-cleaning, so' tospeak, inasmuch'as each soft spot has the abilityto expel a stone or plug of dirt or mud when something of this kind is forced therein- In one sense, therefore, the effect in each case, Orin-both forms of the invention, or-inany equivalent form-thereof, is that of a comparatively large tread cavity with compressible'and resilientmeans (more yielding than the bodyof the tire) therein to. keep, thec'avity from becoming plugged or filled with things. taken up'frorn the road. So,- far; as-these soft spots are concerned,

the tire may be of any suitable form or the body of the tire, when the tread is in action on the ground, finds an outlet not only practically in any direction at the sides of the tire, but also at the center of the tread.

Gf course, the notches 6 and also the soft spots, regardless of whether the soft spots are formed as shown in Figure 1 or as shown in Figure 8, serve to provide an outlet for the flow of rubber, in almost any direction, and to break up or counteract the traction wave which is always a source of'trouble in rubber tires. The soft tread spots are, of course, more yielding than the body of the tire, and each spot must be of substantial width, in order to be a soft spot for the pur= pose and of the desired character.

In Figures 3 and 5 the successive soft spots are formed by cellular rubber, and if these soft spots were omitted. cavities of substantial size would be formed. Hence the fillings for these cavities are-of cellular rubber,

and this cellular rubber is not only united laterally with the body of the tire, but is also integral therewith. In Figures 1 and 2 the successive fillings are of a different kind of rubber, but if omitted. would also produce cavities of substant1al size. Thus,

in each form of the invention, the tread surface is provided with successive soft spots formed by fillings which are softer than the body of the tire and these fillings may be formed in either way, or in any suitable manner, as shown and described. The lateral notches subtract from the tread surface of the tire, so that'the tire has successive tread surface portions of maximum width alternating with intermediate tread surface portions-of less width, for each notch opens on the tread surface of thetire' as well as upon the lateral surface thereof. Furthermore, it will be seen that the soft spots. in either form of the invention, are entirely within the area of the tread surface of the tire, as none of the soft spots reach to. the sides of the tire. Also, the tire is essentially a continuous tread tire, with successive soft spots and successive lateral notches therein, for at no point is the tire divided transversely thereof entirely across the tread. The notches partially divide the tire transversely, but not enough to destroy the practically continuous tread surface formed between 1 the sides of the tire. In this sense, therefore, the invention relates to a continuous tread surface rubber velucle tire molded n. annular form upon the annular channel rim,

thereof. In either form of the invention, the filling or soft spot is entirely surround ed and united laterally with the body of the.

the soft spotis of the form shown in Figure 1, or the form shown in'Figure 3, it follows at the tread is a multiple cavity, so to speak, 1

formed by the outer ends of the holes or cells 16 formed in the rubber. j However, as

stated, the soft spot, in either form of the invention, has a cavity at its outer end of the tread surface of the tire.

The soft spots or fillings, therefore,'can be of either form, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In either case these soft spots cooperate with the notches 6 to break up the traction wave, which latter is destructive if not counteracted in some way, as is well known. Also, the soft spots tend to counteract thetendency of the notches 6 to interfere with the smooth rolling action of the tire. In other words, the notches alone would tend to give the'tire a bumpy, uneven or vibratory rolling action, and the soft spots are provided in alternation with the notches to ensure a more smooth and less bumpy rolling action than would result from the use of the notches alone. These notches increase the traction of the tire, and in conjunction with the soft spots break up the traction wave. These soft spots, also, make the octagonal sections of the tire more yielding, so that they more nearly approximate the strength and firmness of the narrow portions which connect the sections together, so that the tire 1 has a more uniform yielding action along its tread, and without the notches, therefore, the soft spots would not be necessary.

Thus it willbe seen that the air spaces 15 and 16 provide the soft spots with air space therein, whereby rubber from the body of the tire may flow into the soft spots, in the manner explained.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A continuous tread surface rubber vehicle tire provided with successive sections of material forming soft tread spots which are more yielding than the body of the tire and which are disposed at intervals circumferentially of the tread and between the opposite sides thereof, the tire having lateral .means alternating and cooperating with said spots to break up the traction wave, each section of material being united laterally with the body of the tire.

2. A continuous tread surface rubber tire having notches at the sides thereof, whereby the tire is composed of integrally united tire sections of maximum width and uniform shape and size, with central tread surface portions of less width uniting the sections, and successive sections of material forming a soft tread spot at the center of each wider tire section, cooperating with said notches to break up the traction wave.

3. A' rubber tire having a base" and flat tread with exposed sides, notches extending across the sides thereof, whereby the tire is composed of integrally united tire sections of uniform shape and size, with relatively narrow central tread portions alternating therewith, and a comparatively large soft spot at the center of each section, midway between the sides of the tire, said soft spots extending substantially to the base of said tire and whereby circumferential traction 'waves will intersect a notch or a soft spot,

andwhereby rubber from the body of the tire can flow into said soft spots or notches. 4. A rubber tire with a base and flat tread surface having exposed side walls, comparatively large and deep sections forming soft spots in the tread surface, disposed at intervals circumferentially thereof and sur rounded by and integrally united with the body of the rubber, with air space in said 1 spots being each formed with air space into Y which the rubber may flow when the tire is in action.

7. A structure as specified in claim 5, said 7 spots disposed midway between the sides of the tire, in line and alternating with relatively narrow central tread portions.

8. A structure as specified in claim5, each spot having an air space at one end thereof.

ALVARO s. xaorz. 

